The Best Music of 2009

17. Letzte Instanz – Schuldig Alt-rock/folk metal
Rather poppy, but catchy. Sounds like they’ve found a groove.

16. Amorphis – Skyforger Heavy metal
Very catchy riffs, as far as standard metal goes.

15. Eluveitie – Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion Celtic folk/rock
The acoustic sound works… sort of. It’s hit or miss, but many good songs nonetheless.

14. Karl Sanders – Saurian Exorcisms Middle-eastern ambient industrial
Fun, dark, and kitschy. Nothing wrong with that.

13. Sólstafir – Köld Post-black/sludge metal
Expansive genre-defying compositions, and thankfully less repetitive than Masterpiece of Bitterness.

12. Isis – Wavering Radiant Sludge metal

11. Subway to Sally – Kreuzfeuer Folk Metal
Nothing new, but hey, it’s Subway to Sally.

10. Faun – Buch Der Balladen Folk
Did they really need to tell us “acoustic” on the front cover? Oh well, it’s a solid album.

9. Rome – Flowers from Exile Mediterranean acoustic folk/folk-noir
What a departure from Masse Mensch Material (last year’s #2 album). Little martial influence anymore, but good songwriting.

8. Constants – The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension Post-Hardcore
No disappointment having heard them on the Caspian split.

7. Skogen – Vittra Folk black metal
Not groundbreaking, but a very solid album for what it is.

6. Yggdrasil – Vedergällning Folk black metal
Well-produced and catchy. It has the folky melodies of Vintersorg and a smooth atmosphere similar to Skogen.

5. Unto Ashes – The Blood of My Lady Neofolk/acoustic
Surprisingly good; a different atmosphere from earlier albums: less creepy, more somber. Nice use of collaborators.

4. Altar of Plagues – White Tomb Post-black metal

3. Solanaceae- Solanaceae Neofolk/acoustic
Actually shares some tracks with The Blood of My Lady. Minimal, yet heartfelt.

2. Caspian – Tertia Post-rock
Engaging compositions and a great sound, a rare feat for purely instrumental bands. Tertia does not disappoint.

1. Wardruna – Runaljod – Gap Var Ginnunga Ambient, folk
Dark, minimalistic, and folksy, with pretty much perfect execution. Eagerly awaiting the rest of the trilogy.

Best EP: Wolves in the Throne Room – Malevolent Grain Post-black metal
Far better than the following full-length Black Cascade. Brilliant and enveloping atmosphere.
Runners up: ASP – Wer Sonst?, Blindead – Impulse

Best Artwork: Amesoeurs – Amesoeurs Post-punk/black metal
Shame the music was rather pants.

Best Split: Rosetta, Year of No Light, East of the Wall Sludge metal
Leaving the Alcest/Les Discrets split out of the running since everything good on it was later released on an album, this was quite the best. EotW wasn’t really worth listening to, but YonL was good, and Rosetta’s track was, as expected, a phenomenal build.
Runners up: The World Comes to an End at the End of a Journey, Panopticon/Wheels Within Wheels

Tooting my own horn: Epta Astera – SALIGIA Gregorian Industrial Folk Metal
You should give it a listen!